David Antoine was born on June 5/1883 in Mattawa Ontario. David and his brother
Michael both served in WW1.Their real last name is Nijkwiwisens. They were
Algonquins.

David Antoine was killed during an attempt by 102nd
Battalion to move their line forward on 18 May 1917.

The unit got into position the night before without
opposition. The next night they tried to push forward a hundred yards but they
had to fall back. David Antoine and two fellow soldiers did not answer roll call
the following morning. The War Diary of the 102nd Bn for the action suggests the
102nd was supposed to be supported by the 87th Bn on the right. However a look
at the 87th Bn suggests nothing was on the books for the night in question and
the main mission of that battalion was road repair in the Eau de Levette Battle
Area.

What they were fighitng over was in essence a vast coal
mine tailings dump.

Privates Harry Hazelwood and David Antoine are still on
watch. A third soldier, Lance Corporal Grey, who was also killed that night, was
recovered and brought back to Villers Station CEM.